Apparatus for image transfer photography



APPARATUS FOR IMAGE TRANSFER PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Oct. 24, 19 6'? 2'Sheets-Sheet 1 20 V w 2 3 1 7' 4 o 8 9 o 32 INVENTOR.

ROLF SCHMIDT HILDEGARD SCHNORING HARALD v. RINTELEN KAfirWILHEL SCHRANZ W S July 21, 1970 R. SCHMIDT EI'AL 3,521,541

APPARATUS FOR IMAGE TRANSFER PHOTOGRAPHY 1 Filed Oct. 24, 19s? 2 Sheetsg-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ROLF SCHMIDT HILDEGARD' SCHNORING HARAL RINTELEN mm: ang SCHRANZ gfixA Xw w United States Patent 3,521,541 APPARATUS FOR IMAGE TRANSFER PHOTOGRAPHY Rolf Schmidt, Cologne-Stammheim, Hildegard Schniiring, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Harald von Rintelen, Leverkusen, and Karl-Wilhelm Schranz, Opladen, Germany, assignors to Agfa-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft, Leverkusen, Germany Filed Oct. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 677,525 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 25, 1966,

53,899 Int. Cl. G03b 17/50 U.S. Cl. 95-13 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A camera for image transfer photography with magazines for roll film including a flexible carrier provided with spaced image receptive positive sheets, a photosensitive negative sheet hinged to the carrier along its trailing edge ahead of each positive sheet and a rupturable fluid container between each negative sheet and the associated positive sheet. The housing of the camera defines a chamber for the magazine and a channel accommodating a portion of the carrier behind an opening which admits scene light to an unexposed negative sheet in the channel. The housing accommodates a roller which folds or inverts exposed negative sheets over the associated positive sheets downstream of the channel, and a breaking or rupturing device which destroys a container during folding of the corresponding negative sheet over the associated positive sheet in automatic response to withdrawal of the carrier from the housing. During folding, a freshly exposed negative sheet first enters and is thereupon withdrawn from a compartment defined by the housing adjacent to the roller. The breaking device comprises a portion which defines with the roller a gap whose width is less than the thickness of a container so that the latter is destroyed while moving past the roller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for image transfer photography.

It is already known to produce photographic positives in accordance with the silver salt diffusion process by placing an exposed negative sheet or frame against an image receptive positive sheet which is coated with a paste-like developing fluid. The exposed halogen silver of the negative sheet is developed and the unexposed silver is dissolved and dispersed in the coating of the positive sheet to produce an image.

Considerable problems arise in connection with delivery and spreading of paste between the negative and positive sheets. In accordance with a presently known proposal, fluid is withdrawn intermittently from a tank and the apparatus is provided with a rather complicated system of valves which interrupt the flow of fluid from the tank and with seals which confine the discharged fluid. Proper sealing of the discharge opening in the tank presents many problems.

It is also known to store the fluid in rupturable containers or pods each of which contains a supply sufficing to effect transfer of image from an exposed negative sheet onto an image receptive positive sheet. The film is supplied in the form of rolls or elongated flat packs. The manufacturing cost of such packs is very high.

German Pat. No. 1,203,128 discloses a further proposal according to which the container for developing fluid constitutes a pump and is used in cameras employing so-called shingled film wherein the negative and posi- "ice tive sheets are suspended on a flexible carrier strip. The fluid is discharged through a nozzle which is transported transversely of the direction in which the carrier is being withdrawn from its spool. In cameras using such systems, the carrier must be transported lengthwise immediately following the discharge of fluid in order to insure satisfactory distribution of fluid between the corresponding negative and positive sheets; otherwise, the fluid will escape by gravity regardless of the position in which the camera is held. Problems arise in connection with introduction of negative sheets into the exposure chamber, mainly because an unexposed negative sheet must be introduced into such chamber during withdrawal of a freshly exposed negative sheet. Thus, the two negative sheets overlap during a substantial part of admission into and withdrawal from the exposure chamber. Moreover, the exposed negative sheet which is about to be withdrawn from the exposure chamber tends to assume an inclined position and thereby interferes with entry of an unexposed negative sheet. Still further, the depth of the exposure chamber must at least equal the combined thickness of two negative sheets so that, when left alone in the exposure chamber, an unexposed negative sheet tends to curl during exposure to scene light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus for image transfer photography which utilizes roll film.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for use with so-called shingled roll film and wherein the transfer of images onto successive image receptive positive sheets takes place in automatic response to unwinding of film.

A further object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel and improved means for releasing and spreading developing fluid in automatic response to withdrawal of exposed negative sheets from registry with the light-admitting system.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlined character with a novel housing which can be loaded with convoluted shingled film in a simple and time saving way.

The improved apparatus preferably constitutes a still camera and is used with magazines for roll film of the type including an elongated flexible carrier provided with spaced image receptive positive sheets, a photosensitive negative sheet having a trailing edge hingedly secured to the carrier in front of each positive sheet, and a destructible or rupturable fluid container or pod secured to the carrier between the trailing edge of each negative sheet and the associated positive sheet. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a magazine receiving chamber, a channel in communication with the chamber and arranged to accommodate a portion of a carrier extending from the mouth of the magazine in the chamber, and an opening in front of the channel to admit scene light against an unexposed negative sheet in the channel in response to actuation of the shutter. The apparatus further comprises folding or inverting means which preferably resembles a roller installed in the housing downstream of the channel to fold or invert successive exposed negative sheets over the associated positive sheets in response to lengthwise movement of the carrier away from the chamber, and breaking means provided in the housing to destroy the container between the folded negative sheet and the associated positive sheet and to spread the thus released fluid between the folded negative sheet and the associated positive sheet in response to lengthwise withdrawal of the carrier from the housing. The position of positive and negative sheets can be reversed, i.e.,

the roller can be arranged to fold positive sheets over exposed negative sheets.

Thenovel features which are considered as charac-' teristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus which embodies the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a magazine for roll film which can be utilized in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows in section a detail of the apparatus during a first stage of withdrawal of a unit length of the carrier from the apparatus; and

FIG. 4 shows the same detail during the next stage of withdrawal of the carrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an apparatus in the form of a still camera which is used for image transfer photography and employs magazines or cartridges 1 for roll film of the type shown in FIG. 2. The roll film comprises an elongated flexible strip-shaped carrier 3 having a leading end 2 and provided with longitudinally spaced image receptive positive sheets 16 of rectangular outline. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the sheets 16 are affixed to the carrier 3 along their leading edges; however, it is equally within the purview of the present invention to employ roll film wherein the positive sheets 16 are provided directly on or form integral parts of the carrier. The latter is formed with transversely extending rows of perforations 3a to facilitate tearing upon withdrawal from the housing of the camera.

The carrier 3 of FIG. 2 further supports rectangular photosensitive negative sheets 4 each of which is located in front of an image receptive positive sheet 16 and is hingedly secured to the carrier 3 along its trailing edge 4a. Destructible or rupturable fluid containers or pods 18 are attached to the carrier 3 between the trailing edge 4a of each negative sheet 4 and the leading edge 16a of the associated positive sheet 16. The containers 18 can break or brust in response to exertion of a certain pressure to spill their contents onto the adjoining surfaces of the negative sheet 4 and associated positive sheet 16. The latter is surrounded by a rectangular mask 17 which determines the boundaries of the image and confines the fluid which is spread over the sheet 16 in response to destruction of the container 18. In order to facilitate separation of image receptive sheets 16 from the carrier 3,

only their leading edges 16a are afiixed to the carrier directly behind the associated containers 18.

FIG. 2 shows a unit length of the carrier 3 downstream of the mouth 1a of the magazine 1. This unit length is located below the row of perforations 3a. The photosensitive negative sheet 4 of the second unit length is shown in partially withdrawn position. The carrier 3 consists of opaque material. The distance between successive sheets 16 and the dimensions of negative sheets 4 depend on the design of the camera housing. The light-sensitive surfaces of unexposed negative sheets 4 and the imagereceptive surfaces of positive sheets 16 face away from the carrier 3. The length of each negative sheet 4 (as seen 4 partially severed from the carrier during manufacture of roll film.

It is to be noted that FIG. 2 shows one of several types of roll film which can be utilized in the improved apparatus. All that counts is to employ a film wherein foldable photosensitive negative sheets are separated from associated image-receptive positive sheets by fluid containers or pods which can be destroyed to spill their contents in the space between an image receptive positive sheet and a folded negative sheet. As stated before, the sheets 16 may be provided directly on the carrier 3 so that the images are transferred from negative sheets 4 directly onto the carrier and that the resulting positives can be separated along the perforations 3a. It is also clear that the negative sheets 4 can take the place of positive sheets 16, i.e.., that the positive sheets 16 must be folded or inverted about their trailing edges.

Referring to FIG. 1 in detail, the camera therein shown comprises a housing or body 20 which defines a chamber 21 for a magazine 1 containing roll film of the type shown in FIG. 2. A portion of the carrier 3 is withdrawn from the magazine 1 and such portion extends through a film channel 22 behind a light admitting opening 5 in the front part 11 of the housing 20 The opening 5 is located at the rear end of a bellows 25 which supports a customary objective mount 23 and a shutter housing 24. The rear part or rear wall 26 of the housing 20 is connected to the front part 11 by a hinge 14. The rear wall 26 surrounds a portion of the chamber 21 and carries a pressure plate 6 biased by springs 27 and located behind the opening 5 so as to bound the rear side of the channel 22. Two posts 15 of the pressure plate 6 are axially movably guided in tubular sockets 28 of the rear wall 26.

The front part 11 of the housing 20 further defines a compartment 7 surrounded by a concave surface 29 whose purpose is to cooperate with a roller-shaped folding member 8 mounted in the front part 11 downstream of the film channel 22fThe folding member 8 folds successive exposed negative sheets 4 about their trailing edges 4a in response to lengthwise movement of the carrier 3 away from the magazine 1. The carrier 3 can be withdrawn through an outlet 13 provided between the parts 11, 26 and surrounded by a two-piece sealing plug 30 of rubber or like elastic material.

The camera further comprises breaking or rupturing means located downstream of the film channel 22 and serving to destroy successive fluid containers 18 in response to withdrawal of the carrier 3 through the outlet 13. The breaking means comprises a first portion 12 which can but need not form an integral projection of the rear wall 26 and defines with the folding member 8 a gap 31 whose Width is less than the thickness of a container 18. Thus, the container bursts open and spills its contents during travel through the gap 31. The portion 12 cooperates with the folding member 8 to spread the contents of a destroyed container 18 between the next-following positive sheet 16 and the folded-over exposed negative sheet 4. The front part 11 further carries a rigidly mounted spreading roll 9 and the rear wall 26 carries a second spreading roll 10 mounted on a spring 32. The spreading rolls 9, 10 cooperate to complete the equalizing action when a folded-over negative sheet 4 passes therebetween.

When the user wishes to insert a fresh magazine 1, the rear wall 26 is moved to open position in which it it exposes the chamber 21 and the opening -5. The pressure plate 6 shares such movement of the rear wall 26, together with the roll 10, spring 32 and the right-hand half of the plug 30. The magazine 1 is then inserted in such a way that the leading end 2 of the carrier 3 extends beyond the left-hand half of the plug 30. The rear wall 26 is then returned to closed position shown in FIG. 1. The vertical sides of the opening 5 are bounded by elongated shoulders (not shown) provided on the front part 11 of the housing 20 to facilitate proper insertion of the carrier 3. The leading end 2 of the carrier 3 is preferably provided with a marker 33 (shown in FIG. 2) which must appear immediately downstream of the outlet 13 to indicate to the user that a requisite length of the carrier has been withdrawn from the magazine 1. The carrier 3 is automatically received in the gap 31 between the folding member 8 and breaking portion 12 and also extends between the spreading rolls 9, 10 and through the outlet 13 when the rear wall 26 is returned to closed position. In the next step, the user actuates a blocking device (not shown) which prevents lengthwise movement of the carrier 3 when an unexposed negative sheet 4 is moved into exact registry with the opening 5. The user then exerts a pull upon the leading end 2 to draw the carrier 3 from the housing 20 to the extent permitted by the aforementioned blocking device. When the blocking device prevents further lengthwise movement of the carrier 3, the user knows that an unexposed negative sheet 4 is located in the channel 22 in exact registry with the opening 5. The light-sensitive surface of such negative sheet 4 faces the opening and the negative sheet is held fiat by the spring-biased pressure plate 6.

The exposure is made in a well known manner in response to actuation of a shutter release trigger so that the shutter admits scene light against the negative sheet 4 in the channel 22. The shutter release simultaneously dis engages the blocking device so that the user can withdraw a unit length of the carrier 3 through the outlet 13. The blocking device automatically arrests the carrier 3 when the next unexposed negative sheet 4 moves into registry with the opening 5 so that the camera is then ready for the next exposure.

The manner in which the freshly exposed negative sheet 4 is folded or inverted about its trailing edge 4a over the associated image receptive positive sheet 16 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Such folding takes place during withdrawal of a unit length of the carrier 3 through the outlet 13 to the extent determined by the aforementioned blocking device.

FIG. 3 illustrates the first stage of the folding operation when the folding member 8 extends between the carrier 3 and exposed negative sheet 4 and causes the nega tive sheet to enter the compartment 7 and to form a loop along the concave surface 29. The ridge 12a of the breaking portion 12 cooperates with the folding member 8 to deflect the carrier 3 in a direction to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1 or 3, so that the unattached leading edge of the exposed negative sheet 4 engages the folding member 8 along a line located to the left of the axis of the folding member whereby the negative sheet 4 automatically enters the compartment 7 in response to further lengthwise withdrawal of the carrier 3. Deflection of the exposed negative sheet into the compartment 7 is fully automatic and foolproof so that the user need not worry about the possibility of withdrawing the exposed negative sheet 4 with its lightsensitive side facing away from the carrier 3. The exposed negative sheet 4 is fully accommodated in the compartr'nent 7 and is looped 'along the concave surface 29 when its trailing edge 4a is located immediately upstream of the folding member 8. When the trailing edge 4a enters the gap 31, the carrier 3 begins to withdraw the negative sheet 4 from the compartment 7 and the folding member 8 simultaneously causes the negative sheet to turn about its trailing edge 4a and to overlie the associated positive sheet 16.

When the folding member 8 begins to fold or invert the exposed negative sheet 4, Le, during withdrawal of such negative sheet from the compartment 7, the container 18 enters the gap 31 and is destroyed because its thickness exceeds the Width of the gap. The bias of springs 27 for the pressure plate 6 is sufliciently Weak to insure that the plate 6 yields when a container 18 travels through the channel 22. Thus, the container 18 remains intact until it reaches the gap 31. The springs 27 also enable the operator to withdraw the carrier 3 by exertion of a relatively small force because the pressure plate '6 can yield readily when the container 18 advances through the channel 22.

The manner in which the parts 8, 12 and 9, 10 cooperate with each other to spread the contents of a destroyed container 18 uniformly between a folded-over exposed negative sheet 4 and the associated positive sheet 16 is illustrated in FIG. 4. All such portions of the negative sheet 4 which are inverted or folded through 180 degrees about the trailing edge 4a come into contact with fluid and overlie successive increments of the associated positive sheet 16. This completes the treatment of a unit on the carrier 3 and the exposed negative sheet 4 is automatically withdrawn through the outlet 13 in response to continued pull on the carrier 3 to the extent permitted by the aforementioned blocking device. Satisfactory spreading of fluid between the negative sheet 4 and the associated positive sheet 16 is insured first by the breaking portion 12 which cooperates with the folding member 8, and finally by the spreading rolls 9, 10 in that the spring 32 urges the roll 10 to exert pressure against the rear side of the carrier 3 and the carrier transmits such pressure to the positive sheet 16 at the time when the folded-over negative sheet 4 travels past the spreading roll 9. The mask 17 (see FIG. 2) confines the fluid during passage through the gap 31, between the spreading rolls 9, 10 and during withdrawal through the outlet 13. When the folded-over negative sheet 4 is fully withdrawn, the blocking device arrests the carrier 3 because a fresh (unexposed) negative sheet 4 is then in registry with the opening 5. The exposed negative sheet 4 downstream of the outlet 13 can be separated from the roll film by tearing the carrier 3 along the row of perforations 3a.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above described contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. Apparatus for image transfer photography with magazines for roll film including and elongated carrier provided with spaced first type sheets, a second type sheet having trailing edge hingedly secured to the carrier ahead of each first type sheet, one type of said sheets being photosensitive negative sheets and the other type of said sheets being image receptive positive sheets, and destr-uctible fluid containers on the carrier between each first type sheet and the associated second type sheet, comprising a housing defining a magazine receiving chamber, a channel downstream of and in communication with said chamber to accommodate a portion of the carrier extending from the magazine in said chamber, and an opening in front of said channel to admit scene light against a negative sheet in said channel; inverting means provided in said housing downstream of said channel to fold successive second type sheets over the associated first type sheets in response to lengthwise movement of the carrier away from said chamber; and breaking means provided in said housing downstream from said channel to destroy the container between the folded second type sheet and the associated first type sheet and to spread the thus released fluid between the folded second type sheet and the associated first type sheet, said inverting means comprising rotary folding means located in the region of said breaking means and a concave sheet-looping surface provided entirely within said housing adjacent to said folding means, said folding means being arranged to direct successive second type sheets against said concave surface and to thereupon fold such sheets over the associated first type sheets in response to lengthwise movement of the carrier away from said chamber.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said hous- 7 ing further defines a compartment adjacent to said folding means to receive the second type sheet during looping and folding in response to lengthwise movement of the carrier past said folding means, said concave surface surrounding at least a portion of said compartment.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said folding means comprises a roller.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said breaking means includes a portion adjacent to and defining with said folding means a gap whose width is less than the thickness of fluid containers, said gap being in communication with said channel and receiving successive increments of the carrier when the latter is being withdrawn in a direction away from said chamber so that the containers are automatically destroyed and their contents released during travel through said gap.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said portion of said breaking means comprises a projection of said housing.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said breaking means further comprises spreading elements located downstream of said gap to eifect distribution of released fluid during travel of folded second type sheets and associated first type sheets beyond said gap.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said folding means and said portionof said breaking means co operate to spread the released fluid between the folded second type sheets and the associated first type sheets,

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 for use with magazines for roll film. of the type wherein the thickness of fluid containers exceeds the thickness of sheets, wherein said housing comprises aispring-biased pressure plate adjacent to said channel opposite said opening to yield in response to passage of a container through said channel.

References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,497,816 2/1950 'Greenhalghet al. -43 2,543,180 2/1951 Land 95--l3 2,819,662 1/1958 Land 95 -13 2,834,269 5/1958 Land "95-43 2,880,658 4/1959 Land 61; a1. 95 13 5,152,529 10/1964 Erlichman 95-13 3,183,809 5/1965 Nerwin 95-13 3,412,662 11/1968 Balalis 95- 11 3,416,427 12/1968 Murphy 95-13 NORTON AN SHER, Primary Examiner R. M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner 

